2014 Olympics USA Men’s Hockey Recap
The 2014 Sochi Olympics have concluded Sunday, February 23.
With the conclusion of the Winter Olympics came the conclusion that the USA Hockey team underperformed, BIG TIME.
With a promising roster, with a few exceptions that I will touch on later, and a solid coaching staff, the expectations for the USA Men’s Hockey Team were high.
The USA started off strong. With a large margin win over Slovakia in a 7-1 bout, confidence pulsed through fans and players alike.
Defeating a solid team like Slovakia, with players like Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins) and Marian Hossa (Chicago Blackhawks), by that margin propelled the USA into their next game against the host country, Russia.
Russia would prove to be a stronger opponent with star players like Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), and Ilya Kovalchuk (Formerly on the New Jersey Devils, now playing for KHL).
The game was an absolute thriller.
There was a tremendous physical presence brought by both teams, which contributed to the intensity.
The game came down to the wire as both teams held off the opposition through the third period and overtime. The game was then taken into a shootout.
Now, the Olympic rule for shootouts permits the repeated use of any player on the roster, giving each team the ability to choose the best three, two, or one player on their roster to continue shooting in the shootout.
This gave Head Coach Dan Bylsma the opportunity to utilize his skilled players against Russia. First up was forward T.J. Oshie (St. Louis Blues) for the USA.
T.J. Oshie would score on his first shot to then be later answered by Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk.
After the USA used forwards James van Riemsdyk (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) following Oshie and received no additional score, it was time Dan Bylsma acted.
Dan Bylsma and his coaching staff decided to again use T.J. Oshie in the shootout only to see him score yet again.
T.J. Oshie would be the only shooter for the remaining of the shootout as he made 4 of his 6 total shots, winning the game for the USA 3-2.
This victory further amped up the expectations around the USA, as they were to advance to their next game against Slovenia.
This preliminary game would then go in favor to the USA as they defeated Slovenia 5-1.
After the last few games it was apparent that “Big Mo” was on the USA’s side (by “Big Mo” I mean “momentum”).
Next up for the USA was the Czech Republic.
This game had more of a sense of urgency, as it was the beginning of the end of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Hockey Tournament.
Although this game was a Quarterfinal game, the USA proved that they came to play as they defeated the Czech Republic 5-2.
By defeating the Czech Republic, the USA would advance to the Semifinals to face the most anticipated opponent, Canada.
The winner of this game would compete for the Gold Medal against Sweden; the loser would play against Finland to compete for the Bronze Medal.
The Semifinal game against Canada would be against the USA’s toughest opponent in the tournament yet.
The one advantage that the USA brought to the game was the hunger for redemption against Canada, as the Canadians defeated the USA in the last Winter Olympics and took the Gold away from them.
However, their “hunger” proved irrelevant as the powerhouse of a team that is Team Canada defeated the USA. Canada’s Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) notched his goal for Canada early in the game off of a beautiful deflection.
Benn’s goal would be the only scored that day between the two teams as the Canadians defeated the USA 1-0.
Despite being given several chances to score on a few powerplays, the USA’s efforts were thwarted.
The USA then had to play against Finland for a shot at the bronze medal, an otherwise consolation match.
One would think that in light of their performance, or lack-thereof against Canada, the USA would fight tooth and nail for any medal left to earn, in this case the Bronze.
Unfortunately, that was not the case…not even close.
The USA faced a solid team in Finland, but not a team that could defeat them with ease, as was the case.
Finland had a few standout names like Teemu Salanne (Anaheim Ducks) and Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins), but none like those of Russia or Canada.
To the surprise of many, Finland bested the USA 5-0.
It was apparent that the USA did not have the drive to finish the tournament with the energy levels that they began with.
So, in response to the underperformance of the USA Men’s Hockey Team, many have played the “blame game” to pinpoint the weaknesses of the team.
Some have brought up the coaching staff, especially Dan Bylsma, for the line pairings, responses to situations on the ice in several games, and for lack of reinforcement of team morale after the loss to Canada.
Others have blamed the selection committee for the picking and choosing of players to make the roster of Team USA.
Most of the complaints have been directed towards the committee due to the players that were left off of the roster.
Some of the players that did not make the list include: Bobby Ryan (Ottawa Senators), Brandon Saad (Chicago Blackhawks), Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes), Jack Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets), and goalie Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightening).
When looking at those players left off of the roster, it is hard to not agree with those making the complaints.
Some players that made the team have been also faced blame since many believe that they did not belong there.
Some of those players scrutinized for making the roster over the abovementioned are: Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets), Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), and Dustin Brown (Las Angeles Kings).
Either way, the USA lost and Canada went on to win the Gold Medal yet again in their sport of ice hockey.
Maybe in the next Winter Olympics, the USA will have a stronger team to help avenge their past losses.
photo: mahockey.org
Frank Markasovic
Sports Editor
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